Pallade Veneta - 'Kidnapped' Uganda opposition figure appears in military court

The United Nations and multiple rights groups expressed concern over Kenya's role in his extradition and Uganda's crackdown on the opposition.

Besigye, 68, a medical doctor and longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was brought to the General Court Martial in the Ugandan capital under a heavily armed military escort.

He appeared in the dock with another opposition figure, Hajji Lutale Kamulegeya, who was also snatched in Nairobi, his lawyer Erias Lukwago told AFP.

The prosecution alleged they were in possession of two pistols and had "solicited logistical support in Uganda, Greece and other countries with the aim of compromising the country's national security", Lukwago said.

Besigye, a retired army colonel, denied the charges and insisted he was now a civilian and should not be tried in a military tribunal.

He was remanded to Luzira prison until December 2.

Once Museveni's trusted personal physician, Besigye has been repeatedly targeted by the authorities since falling out with the president in the late 1990s and running unsuccessfully against him in four elections.

His wife Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, said on X that her husband was kidnapped Saturday while in Nairobi for a book launch by Kenyan opposition politician Martha Karua.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "extremely concerned" about Besigye's situation.

The Ugandan authorities have cracked down on the opposition in recent months.

In July, 36 members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) -- the party Besigye founded two decades ago -- were deported from Kenya and tried in Uganda on terrorism charges.

- 'Can be arrested anywhere' -

Besigye recently broke from the FDC, forming a new party called the People's Front for Freedom (PFF), of which his co-accused is also a member.

Ugandan government spokesman Chris Baryomunsi sought to justify the arrests, telling reporters: "You can be arrested from anywhere because countries have treaties or instruments that they signed between them that allow for extradition."

There is mounting concern in Kenya that its government is colluding in kidnapping foreign nationals on its soil.

Last month, the government admitted to repatriating four Turkish refugees, following reports they were abducted and forcibly returned without due process.

The Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network said Besigye's extradition was "deeply disturbing".

"This emerging pattern of abduction/kidnapping of foreign nationals from Kenyan soil, followed by illegal and forced return and detention in their home countries does not bode well for us in East Africa," it said in a statement.

- 'Back to dark days' -

Bobi Wine, another prominent Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate who has been arrested multiple times, also voiced outrage.

"We condemn this blatant abuse of the law by the regime here in Uganda, and sadly the authorities in Kenya," he said in a post on X.

Museveni and Besigye were once close, fighting together in the 1980s bush war to overthrow Milton Obote.

They became foes when Besigye broke ranks with the ruling National Resistance Movement and ran for the presidency in 2001, later forming the FDC with other disaffected NRM members.

Lately, the opposition has been concerned about the meteoric rise of Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is now head of Uganda's defence forces.

Over the years, Besigye has faced multiple arrests and spurious charges including rape and treason, while he and his supporters have often been teargassed, beaten and harassed.

burs-er/sbk

A.Fallone--PV